maskormenace | [video]

[He's had plenty of time to toy with this gizmo (all technical terms, thank you mental projection of Kay that's moved back into his brain now that it's not too painful because there's a real Kay again, shush), but still hasn't put himself on it for more than a brief response to Catelyn Stark.

For all his well-[founded?]-honed mistrust of open networks, it has chastened him that he could have found Jyn and Kay much more quickly if he'd used it from the start. For all the research he does, it's unignorable that he's wasting a huge amount of this powerful resource by relegating himself to observer, not participant.

…And there's one or two other imPorts he's learned about that… have caught his attention. He's wondering if he'll catch theirs.

So, network, hello: months after his arrival (albeit a good percent of them spent unconscious): Human. Male. Age hard to tell: either in his thirties-forties or face prematurely hollowed and lined. Hair: dark, cut as if by himself with a tool not meant for such use and no mirror. Eyes: several galaxies' worth. Shirt doesn't look like anything specific to those who wouldn't know the style, instantly recognizable as Corellian to those who would.

Then he smiles—in a way that seems entirely effortless, genuine, and engaged—and some of the agedness falls away. The eyes crinkle and sparkle. He seems approachable and warm. Even the haircut is transformed into seeming less unloved and more boyish. It gives this stranger the face of a friend.

His accent, when he speaks, sounds Hispanic to ~~Earth~~ American ears.]

I was wondering, if you're willing to share—

[~~on an open network~~, though that's not necessarily a good barometer of the network itself]

Are you still in the job you were assigned? Yes or no, how is it going for you?

I've read the introductory material on this. I'm wondering about personal experiences.

[He's tried to go beyond the official literature, including as much of the backlog as he could find or slice. Which is also why he doesn't repeat Godric's question (to which the answers were exceedingly helpful—and a few that sent a shiver up his spine. But pull it together, don't apply superstitious thought to the superstitious thoughts: that's what common cosmological models do).

As if in afterthought, and as if with self-conscious awkwardness, he adds]

…and hello. My name's Cassian.

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[Dooku snorts softly.]

Ideals are one thing that boy has never had any lack of. But he has taken things further than I ever expected him to, very far indeed.

[He frowns thoughtfully.]

We fought many times in the Clone Wars. But I have no desire to bring our quarrel to this world. Let us hope that he will feel the same way.

[Exactly what Cassian wanted to hear.

It made his mouth tighten. And his chest hurt.

He went even warier when someone told him exactly what he wanted to hear. Especially so obviously skilled a player at the game as Dooku.

…Cassian wondered if he was compromised. If continuing to talk with Dooku was going to make it harder for him to extract clear intel.

Intel—no. Stop.

Try. There was something to be learned. If not about reality, then about the speaker.]

Are you aware of anything after your departure?

[The Count frowns. For a moment, he seems to shrink into himself before his natural sense of pride and authority reasserts itself.]

I have been told that a dark future awaits. The Confederacy defeated, an Empire rising... and that I do not survive the Clone Wars.

[He hasn't accepted it. Not yet. He and Palpatine will rule together- that has been the Grand Plan for almost thirteen years, the star he has followed through the many trials and sacrifices of the war. Surely there has been some mistake, surely the history the others think they know has been distorted.

He cannot simply fail, after all he has done. It is unacceptable.]

I would of course appreciate any further information you can provide.

If you like, I can compile a report.

[Something he'd already been considering. And on another channel, had offered General Grievous.

He's not entirely sure to what end. And sharing information feels on some level incredibly uncomfortable.

On the other hand… they have more in common than different, here. And perhaps it will be a compelling way to… oddly… put old battle lines behind them.

Have them written… which psychologically tends to put things in the past.

And move on.

…He would suggest a one-on-one debrief. Except… that lingering deep-gut wariness of being alone with Dooku in the flesh.

Even over a visiscreen. The near-atomic sensitivity to a master manipulator.

To whom Cassian may be particularly susceptible.

…Which… perhaps he tries to get ahead of… in offering this quiet, more personal addition.]

I'm sorry. You're not alone. A few of us are here from the moment of death.

A report would be most appreciated, if it is not too much trouble. I do not wish to impose.

[Not yet, anyway. That will come once he has better established what bond this former Rockrender may still feel to the Separatist leader. The sharing of personal information is a good sign in that direction though, and Dooku's eyes widen with sympathy:]

'Us?' Surely you don't mean...?

[with the distant formality of 'reporting for duty']

Yes, my lord. Killed in action.

It'll be notated as Rogue One mission in my report.

[Perhaps disseminating the information is unwise since sometimes people port back out. But he doesn't believe that if they do they go back to their origin, or can change anything if they do. He can't say why he doesn't but he just… doesn't. More likely they're probability reflections/fragments/discontinuities, or… in any case, the inevitable bottom line: the universe-breaking power to make this possible in the first place is not worth second-guessing to try and circumvent or control. They might as well take advantage of this chance. And he thinks the best way to do that is probably to come to grips with their old politics being a thing of another place, and, for them, regardless of timelines, in the past. Psychologically, putting things in writing tended to have that effect.

Perhaps even yield some sense of perspective.

If only that…

…

Brow furrowing, Cassian at last gives voice to… what he doesn't know how to anticipate Dooku answering. But may be worth finding out.]

…It's difficult, looking too far forward… our actions may not have the repercussions we'd planned. …The Separatist movement… may not have had the impact we'd wanted.

I am... Sorry to hear that. It must be somewhat difficult, living this new life granted by the Porter, knowing what has been given could also be taken away...

[The Count shakes his head slowly, then sighs.]

I suppose you would know more of our legacy than I would. But I can guess at how the Confederacy is remembered: as a justification for the Empire's grip upon the Galaxy. A menace invoked by propaganda.

[It's a bit more than a guess, considering that was what the Separatist movement was intended to be from the beginning by Palpatine and Dooku. The Galaxy had to be forced to recognize the costs of division, rebellion, and disorder, so they could be more willing to accept the new path ordained by the Sith.]

[Yes, it is, thanks so much for saying it aloud.

But Cassian doesn't wince. Only inclines his head in an appropriate display of sober agreement.

…Likewise, that accurate prediction/assessment of the movement. When Cassian had entered Intelligence training, and his first taste of formal education, with first glimpse of the long view… learning that about their place in the causality stream had made him smash up Draven's office.]

"Backfire" more than "justification". [depending on one's side] But yes.

[Cassian's voice and face remain completely calm. But he gets terser to preserve effort, create less to mask.]

[This is what Dooku does. He lies by speaking the truth, pulls people into doing what he wants by playing on what they want. He states the hard contradictions that others are tempted to ignore or excuse, and in doing so exposes the conflicts lying beneath the skin of civilization, waiting to erupt.]

How deeply unfortunate. Perhaps I will understand more once I have seen your report. Thus far, I have learned only scraps of the entire truth.

I'll contact you once I have enough to work with.

[Waiting for usual standards of completion and thoroughness would probably be… forever. This could be more like excavation, discovering in stages.

Including, another attempt to get Dooku's perspective…]

Might I start with your own account, my lord?

Certainly. But to fully do justice to the turbulent times I came from, it will be necessary for me to think on the matter for a day or so. A written summary would be best, I think. If you do not mind the delay.

[More time perhaps for Dooku to perfect his spin. On the other hand, the chance to review it in private. Maybe even less distracted by this extremely strange… ache. It was upsetting at how much less able Cassian was proving to set himself aside on this matter, with this person, than befitted his skillset.

Anyway. Textual analysis had its opportunities as well as verbal account.]

I'd welcome that.

[The mental Kay, and even Jyn, were also starting to fidget in his mind at continued obsequiousness. Might be time for extraction.]

And look forward to it.

[Not presuming to close the conversation but a natural transition toward doing so.]

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